This section makes hazing-related conduct an offense and requires reporting known hazing incidents to school or law-enforcement officials.
Sec. 37.152. PERSONAL HAZING OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) engages in hazing; (2) solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; (3) recklessly permits hazing to occur; or (4) has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution, a peace officer, or a law enforcement agency. (b) The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor. (c) Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor. (d) Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor. (e) Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony. (f) Except if an offense causes the death of a student, in sentencing a person convicted of an offense under this section, the court may require the person to perform community service, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 770 (H.B. 2299), Sec. 2.30, eff. January 1, 2017. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1036 (S.B. 37), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.